Dos  n thompson of syracuse



D. N. THOMPSON.

LAMP SOCKET.

Armcnmu FILED NOV. 2. Ian.

1,313,139. Patented Aug; 12, 1919.

s I; W r I 6M0: a t 1 v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DO)! IT THOMPSON, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASBIGHOB TO-PA8S & SEYMOUR. INC

' OI SOLVhY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LAIQP-SOGKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1919.

Application filed November 2, 1817. Serial .I'o. 189,854.

cw ful break electrical switches and 1s particularly suitable for use in connection with lamp sockets, although it is also adapted to be and in other ways.

used in wall swltches,

' The object of the invention is to provide a simple compact and inexpensive mechanism which will eifect a quicksna action of electrical contacts so that or other current e established or connection with stationary consuim device may broken without arcin k The invention wil be fully disclosed in the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which 1-- Figure l is a top plan view of the mechamsm secured to the insulating base of a lamp socket, the upper block of the base be' removed; A

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts [in Hiflerent positions;

, .Fig. 3 isa vertical section through the base along theaetuating spindle and key, the switch member being shown in the 011* Po *Iflig, 4 is a side view of the parts which are amembled on. the .key spindle;

5 is a a. Fig. 6 is asectional view along the hue of Fig. 1; and

-'Fig.'7 is an elevation of the switch mem- .-The insulating base of the lamp socket comprises lower and upper. insulating blocks inafter be fully ilamp indicated b the numerals 10 and 11 respective] in the drawings, and the lower bl are secured by suitable screws the contacts, comprising the screw shell 12 and center contact 13. Electrically conmated to the center contact 13 is the wire 14 theecrew shell contact 12 bethe wire .terminal 15 the: mechanism as will hereexplained. The current thereiorainto the terminal 14 from the feed wii'es and then passes into connectedto N. TnoMrsoN, a

bottom plan view of the lamp 7 the center contact 13 and after going through the lamp or 0t er current consummg device, passes to the screw shell contact 12, thence upwardly through a suitable screw 16, and through the switch mechanism into the other win terminal 15.

The adjacent faces of the insulating blocks are provided with registerin recesses to recelve the wire terminals an switch mechamsm, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. 7

The wire terminal 14 is held within the recess 17 by means of a screw 18 (Fig.5) passing throu h'the arm 19 of the center contact 13 an upwardly through the lower block 10, the screw in this manner servin to hold both the center contact and termina 14 in position, and to electrically connect them. The wire terminal 15 is held within a diametrically opposite recess 20 by a screw 21 (Fig. 5) and in an elongated recess 22, midway between the terminal recesses 17 and 20 is located the switch mechanism.

The switch mechanism is also mounted upon the lower block 10 and indeed the npper block. 11 serves merely as an insulat- -1ng cap for the metal parts, and is held to efl'c'cting a quick make and quick break of the electrical circuit.

'lne switch mechanism is mounted on and operated by a spindle 26 jo'urnaled at its outer end in the carrying bracket 27 and at its inner end in a recess 28 in the lower block 10. To the outer end of this spindle 26 is secured the key 29 which may be grasped to actuate the switch. Rotatahly mounted on the spindle 2&is the switch member 30 comprising an insulating disk 31 having notches 32 cut in the diametrically opposite portions of its periphery, and the switch 33 resting against the disk 31 and having edge portions turned laterallyto form flanges to engage the sides of the notches 32 so at the switch member and insulating disk will rotate together.

The switch 33 has integral therewith flanges or arms 34 which are parallel arid thereto on opposite extend at right angles ion sides of a circular opening 35 throu which the spindle 26 extends. 4 s ean-' seen from P 1 and 2 of the drawings, the switch; ich extends across and rests agaihstthe. face of the insulating disk 31, is raised somewhat above the surface of the insulatingdisk.

In the rotation of the switchmemher, the switch and insulating disk engagethe stationary contacts 36gnd 37, connected to terminal 15 and screw shell 12frespectively, alternately to make and break the circurt, and the disk must necessarily have a limited movement axially of the spindle to compensate for the offset between theinsulating disk and switch. In order that the switch member closely engage the stationary contacts, it is loosely mounted on the spindle and a coiled spring 38 is located on the spindle behind the insulating disk which presses the insulating disk and switch against the stationary contacts n all times. This-allows axial movement of the switch member against the action of the spring, and insures a firm electrical contact between the switch and stationary contacts.

The forwardly extending arms 34 on the switch m'cmher engage with a considerable lost motion the rearwardly extending arms 39 of a cam 40 which is loosely mounted upon the spindle and is connected thereto with a considerable lost motion by a notched member or plate 41 securely fastened to the spindle. Thus the rotating switch member is operably connected to the spindle through the cam 40 with lost motion at two places.

The cam 40 has alternate rounded elevations and depres'sions42 and 43 respectively which may be inveniently four each in number, and cm xerating'with and closely engaging the inclined faces of this cam are the correspondingly inclined faces of the cam 44, also mounted upon the spindle and axially movable thereon, but prevented from rotation by a downwardly extending arm 45 which projects through a slot 46in the bottom of the carrying bracket 27. v A strong coiled spring 47 located between the vertica l flange of the carrying-bracket 27 and the cam 44, and bearing against these rtions, tends to keep the inclined faces o the two cams constantly together in the position shownin Fig. 1, since under the action of the spring the elevations of one cam will seek the depressions of the other. When the spindle is rotated, however, the notched member 41 engages the arms 39 of the cam 40 and the arms 39) engage the arms 34 of the switch member to rotate the-latter to i make or break the circuit.

The function of the cooperating ca ms, aided by the spring 47, is to efiect a snap action of the switch member, and this result is very eilcctually produced thereby, as will now be frilly explained. Assuming the key to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to break the-current connection, the spindle is rotated in either direction, at desired. Assuming it to be rotated in a. clock-wise direction, the spindle will turn some distance before the notched member 41 engages the arms 39 to rotate the cam 40 and the cam 40 will rotate a further distance bee fore the arms 39 engage the arms 34 to rotate the switch member. As the cam 40 rotates, however, its inclined surfaces press against the correspondingly inclined surfaces of the cam 44 and ride overthem to wedge or push the last mentioned cam forwardly on spindle and awayfrom the cam 40. This forward motion of cam 44 continues until it has reached the position indicated in Fig. 2. when the elevations of the two cams are heat ing against each'other and'the spring 47 is compressed. A slightfurther clock-wise rotation ofthe spindle will cause the elevations of cam 40 to pass over the rounded elevations of cam 44 and thereuponthe 5 ring 47 which has been put under considers le compression. expands and drives the-cam 44 toward the cam 40 and the elevations of cam 44 ride down the inclines of cam 4O until they rest in the depressions therein.

This causes a. very quick rotation of cam 40 and the rotating switch member is instantly thrown from its on positiogl to its of! position, the lost motion permitting the switch member to rotate due to its iherti a, even after the cam 40 has ceased to rotate.

This insures every quick break of the i electrical connection between the contacts 17 and 18. Having broken. the connection, it may be Wablished by turning the key in either virection, the parts performin identieitlly the same functions as before t ough infthe reverse direction. if thespindle is rotated in a counter clock-wise direction. I From the above descri tion, it is app 7 that the invention, provi es a simple in in.- expensive switch, but one wllich mak'ea' breaks the contact at high speed;-wbiel!' is necessary toprevent arcing. The invention may be used not only with amp sockets such as shown in the drawings, but with wall switches and other electrical switches. suitable inclpsing shell is, of course, pro: vid'ed to properly insulate the various parts of the mechanism, but as this is no part of my present invention, I have omittedto show a and describe the same for the sake of brevity and clearness, such protecting shells being old and well known in the art.

Having thus described the inventhin will! is claimed asnew and desired to be seen by Letters Patent is 1. In a quick make and break switch, the combination with an insulating base, of a stationary contact mounted thereon, a rotatable spindle mounted on said base, arotary switch rotatably mounted on-said spindle and adapted to make and break electrical connection with said stationary contact, a

rotary cam having lost motion connections with said spindle and said rotar switch, a non-rotate 'le cam movable axial yof said spindle,. and'a sprihgholding said "eams'in mutual engagemenksaid spring causing the base, a rotary switch rotatahly monnted on said spindle and adapted to make and break electrical connections between said stationary contacts, a rota cam having lost motion connections vwit said s india and said rotary switch, anon-rotatab e cain movable axially of said spindle, a spring holding said cache in mutual'enga'gement,

said sprinicausing the axially movable and non-rotate le'joani' to rotate 'said rotatable cam and switclnmember with a snap action to make or break the electrical connection between the stationary contacts when the switch has been partially rotated by said spindle, and rotary cam.

3. In a quiclcmake and break switch, the combination with an insulating base, of a stationary contact mounted thereon, a 40- tatable spindle mounted on said base, a roiziry switch member having alternate con ducting and non-conducting portions, a spring pressing said switch member against said contact at all times, a rotary cam having lost motion connections with said spindle and said rotary switch, a non-rotatable cam movable axially of said spindle, and a spring holding said earns in mutual engage I me'nt, said spring causing the ax ally movable and non-rotatable cam to rotate said rotatable cam and switch member with a sna i action to make or break the connection with the stationary contact when the switch has been partially rotated by said spindle and rotary cam.

4. in a quick make and break switch, the

combination with an insulnting'base'of a stationary contact mounted thereon, a rotatable spindle cuntcd on said base, a rotary switch member having alternate conducting and non-conducting port ons, arins rojecting laterally from said switch memir,.a rotary cam connected with lost motion to said spindle and having laterally projecting arms adapted to engage'with lost motion the arms projecting from said rotary switch member, a non-rotatable cam movable. axially of said spindle, and aspring holding said cams in iniitual enga ment,

said spring causing the axially move leand" non-rotatable cam to rotate said rotatable cam and switch member .with a snap-action to make orbreak the connection-with the stationary contacts when the switch has been partially rotated by said spindleand rotary cam. o a p 5. n a quick make and break switch, the combination with'an insulating base, of a stationary contact mounted thereon, a' r0- tatable spindle mounted on said base, a rotary switch rotatably mounted on-said ,5 indie and adapted to make and break e ectrical connection with said stationary contact, a rotary cam having alternate rounded elevntions and x depressions and havin lost motion connections with said spindle and said rotary switch, a non-rotatable ciiii'i movable axially of said spindle and having alternate rounded elevations and depressions corresponding to the elevations zind depressions of the rotary cam and,

adapted to engage the same, a spring holding said cams in mutual engagcment said spring causing the axially movable antv nonrotatable cam to rotate said mtatablecam and switch member with a sun action to make or break the connection with the at:

tionary contact when the switch has been ,pni'tially iiitatcd by said spindle and rotary cam.

(Lin a quick make and break switch, the coiiiliiiiation with an insulating liasc','of it stationary contact mounted thereon, a rciatahlc spindle mounted on said base, i rotary switch rotatabl mounted on said fie s indlc and adapted to'make'imd break eeetricul connection with said stationary contact. a rotary cam connected with .1051;

motion to said switch member, a notched member mounted on said spindle and c n gaging with lost motion said rotary'cam, a non-rotatable cani movable axially of-said spindle, and a spring holding said cams in mutual engagement, said spring causing the axially movable and non rotatable cam to rotate said rotatable cam and switch membe! with a snap action to make or break the connection with the stationary contact when the switch has been partially rotated by said spindle and rotary cum. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

non N. THOMPSON. 

